Concerns have been raised about the proposed opening of a city centre cocktail bar.

Neighbours have objected to plans to bring an Alchemist venue to Newcastle, with one suggesting its outside area will bring “glass fights and lots of ambulances”.

The high-end chain - which was founded in Manchester before spreading its wings to Leeds, London and beyond - is set to open on Nelson Street, in Eldon Square’s new multi-million pound Greys Quarter.

But a host of the bar’s new neighbours have objected to its licence application, which originally requested permission to serve booze from 8am but has now been amended so alcohol sales would start at 10am and end at 2am the next day.

Jane Simpson lives in nearby Clayton Street and is among those objecting to the new bar.

She says a new city centre watering hole will help Newcastle “descend further into mayhem” in the evening.

She writes: “We have enough pubs. Call them cocktail bars but they still sell beer and spirits. Cocktail bar is just today’s trendy name for the kids who populate them.

“I see there is also an external area on Nelson Street. This will be fun. Glass fights and lots of ambulances.”

Michael Rae, who owns and manages four apartments near the Theatre Royal, wrote in his objection that Newcastle has a “Jekyll and Hyde” contrast between day and night.

He says he imagines Alchemist’s outlets in Manchester and Leeds have big queues late at night, something he thinks will be replicated in Newcastle.

A CGI to show how the Newcastle branch of The Alchemist could look at intu Eldon Square (Image: Laurence Hudghton Photography LTD)

He adds: “Why does the city council continue to issue licenses and allow the city to become such an unwelcome place in the evening? Our hospitals are overflowing with weekend drunks.

“This a public house by another name. Newcastle has enough. Residents do not need more urine and vomit on the streets in a city which has no public toilets available in the evening.

He added: “A casual stroll through Newcastle on a weekend evening (were that possible without a bodyguard) would evidence overflowing pavements, taxi queues of drunks, casual sex - all conducted in a sea of urine and vomit.”

According to the bar’s application, staff will promise to take a zero-tolerance on drug use, while open alcohol will not be taken outside, except for a designated outdoor area.

At least 70% of the floor space will be used for tables and chairs, while doors onto Nelson Street will be shut after 11pm and its tables and chairs removed by midnight.

Bin emptying, the application says, will not happen between 11pm and 8am, to minimise disturbances.

Speaking in February, The Alchemist managing director Simon Potts said: “We are really looking forward to bringing The Alchemist to Newcastle and to being part of the fantastic restaurant space at intu Eldon Square.”